Super Bowl Champs NY Giants Given Key To The City

Eli Manning of the New York Giants walks onto the stage as the team is honored at City Hall Plaza following a ticker-tape parade in Manhattan for the second time in four years after winning the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots on February 7, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — In honor of the New York Giants Super Bowl win, the city has been declared the “Big Blue Apple” today by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

“Are you feeling ‘deja blue’ all over again,” Bloomberg asked, referring the Giants 2008 win against the Patriots.

Speaking to a crowd that included 250 lucky fans who won tickets to the City Hall ceremony, Bloomberg said the Giants are Super Bowl champions despite all the negativity from the ‘experts’ who picked against them.

“Two months ago the experts doubted the Giants would even make the playoffs,” Bloomberg said. “But we are here today because this team of Giants believed in each other and we believed in them.”

Former New York Giant great Michael Strahan was on hand to praise and introduce the team.

“There are some guys who have been magnificent. Who we would not be here today if it weren’t for them,” he said, “Iwant them to see what it’s like to be a champion in the greatest city in the entire world.”

Then the current Giants took the stage, lead by Coach Tom Coughlin who offered his praise for the city and for the team.

“This is the greatest city in the world and it’s wonderful that we returned the Lombardi trophy to exactly where it belongs, to New York,” he said. “We always believed, we always knew we could get here, we had to put it together and it’s a great, great credit to the coaches who did a magnificent job and to our players.”

“The New York Giants are proud to represent the greatest city in the world and the great state of New Jersey and to bring home the Vince Lombardi trophy to the most loyal fans in all of sports,” Giants co-owner John Mara said.

Fellow co-owner Steve Tisch said it’s all about the fans.

“Our teams plays for our fans,” he said. “Coach Coughlin not only coaches the best football players in the country but he’s got all of you and the team has all of you in their hearts every Sunday.”

One by one, Bloomberg then gave a key to the city to each member of the Giants team.

“I got a key, He got one too! When you grow up in Lancaster, oh it never crosses your mind that one day this is yours,” tweeted Jim Cordle.

(credit: Twitter/@DCarr8)

“I want to say thank you to all our fans, all our supporters, everybody out there who believed in ous, believed in the team and congratulations to all of you,” Eli Manning said to the crowd.

Defensive end Justin Tuck said their belief in each other is what helped the team win the Lombardi trophy.

“We believe in every guy that’s on this football, offense, defense, special teams and obviously we wouldn’t be here today without your support,” he said. “Coming into that stadium every Sunday, 85,000 blue, red and white. Why wouldn’t you not love to play for these Giants.”

Victor Cruz of the New York Giants dances on the stage as the team is honored at City Hall Plaza following a ticker-tape parade in Manhattan on February 7, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)